Abstract

The adaptor protein Grb2 (growth factor receptor-bound protein 2) is involved in cell proliferation via the Ras signalling pathway. In order to study the role of Grb2 in blood platelet responses, we used a peptide containing two proline-rich sequences derived from Sos (peptidimer), which binds to Grb2—Src homology 3 domain (SH3) with a high affinity, and hence inhibits Grb2—SH3-mediated protein interactions. Platelet aggregation and 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) release measured in the presence of the peptidimer were: (i) significantly decreased when induced by thrombin; and (ii) potentiated when induced by the engagement of the Fc receptor. In thrombin-activated platelets, the Grb2—SH2 domain formed an association with the β3 subunit of the αIIb—β3 integrin (GPIIb—IIIa), Shc, Syk, Src and SHP1 (SH2-containing phosphotyrosine phosphatase 1), whereas these associations did not occur after the engagement of the receptor for the Fc domain of IgG (FcγRIIa) or in resting platelets. Grb2—SH3 domains formed an association with the proline-rich sequences of Sos and Cbl in both resting and activated platelets, since the peptidimer abolished these associations. Inhibition of both fibrinogen binding and platelet aggregation by the peptide RGDS (Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser) had no effect on thrombin-induced Grb2—SH2 domain association with the aforementioned signalling molecules, indicating that these associations occurred during thrombin-induced ‘inside-out’ signalling. Platelet aggregation induced by direct activation via αIIb—β3 ('outside-in’ signalling) was potentiated by the peptidimer. The results show that inhibition of Grb2—SH3 interactions with signal-transduction proteins down-regulates thrombin-induced platelet activation, but also potentiates Fc receptor- and αIIb—β3-mediated platelet activation.